The 49ers (8-6) travel to the Louisiana Superdome for a 1:00 PM CT kickoff against the New Orleans Saints (4-10) on Sun December 15, 1985.
Joe Montana continues after the Rams loss. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Saints start Dave Wilson at quarterback with George Rogers at running back.
New Orleans is 4-10 and eliminated from postseason contention. The 49ers must win this and the final home game to reach the playoffs.[1][2][3]
The Saints at 4-10 are the week's paper mismatch. Dave Wilson has been inconsistent all year — 12 interceptions to ten touchdowns in 14 games. The Superdome is loud but the Saints' record reflects a team without postseason stakes.
Montana has thrown two interceptions in each of the last two games. The pattern needs reversing. A clean game at the Superdome — where Montana has won before — sets up the Dallas finale. Craig needs 83 rushing yards to hit 1,000 for the season.
Week fifteen is the second-to-last week. The 49ers (8-6) need wins in Weeks 15 and 16 to reach the playoffs. The Saints (4-10) have been eliminated. The Rams (10-5) have clinched the NFC West. The Bears have clinched everything in the NFC. The 49ers' road game at the Superdome in New Orleans is the week's most important result for San Francisco's playoff push.
Through fourteen games the 49ers are 8-6 with a plus 88 differential. The Saints are 4-10 with a minus 75. Wilson is 161 of 310, 2,006 yards, ten touchdowns, 12 interceptions. Rogers has 230 carries for 920 yards. Montana is 281 of 477, 3,294 yards, 23 TDs, twelve INTs on the year. Craig has 893 rushing yards and 813 receiving yards through fourteen games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7-7 | W2 |
| Cleveland Browns | 7-7 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-8 | L3 |
| Houston Oilers | 5-9 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 10-4 | W5 |
| New England Patriots | 10-4 | W2 |
| New York Jets | 10-4 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 3-11 | L6 |
| Buffalo Bills | 2-12 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Raiders | 10-4 | W4 |
| Denver Broncos | 9-5 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 8-6 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 7-7 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-9 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 10-4 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 8-6 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-9 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 2-12 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 13-1 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 7-7 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 7-7 | W2 |
| Green Bay Packers | 6-8 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-12 | L2 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 9-5 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 9-5 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 8-6 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6-8 | L3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5-9 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Dwight Clark 26 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 7-0 |
| Saints | Morten Andersen 46 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Saints | Frank Warren 42 yard blocked field goal return | 7-9 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Wilson 52 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 14-9 |
| Saints | Eugene Goodlow 76 yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Andersen kick) | 14-16 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 24 yard field goal | 17-16 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Saints | Morten Andersen 41 yard field goal | 17-19 |
| 49ers | Russ Francis 17 yard pass from Joe Montana (Ray Wersching kick) | 24-19 |
| 49ers | Roger Craig 15 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 31-19 |
Joe Montana threw three touchdown passes and the 49ers rushed for 151 yards as San Francisco beat the New Orleans Saints 31-19 at the Superdome. Montana finished 25 of 38 for 354 yards with one interception. Roger Craig rushed for 74 yards, reaching 967 on the year. The defense held the Saints to 19 points. The 49ers improved to 9-6.[1][2][3]
Montana's 354-yard, three-touchdown performance at the Superdome kept the 49ers' playoff push alive. The 49ers won 31-19 with Craig's 74-yard rushing day pushing him to 967 yards on the season — 33 shy of 1,000 — plus his receiving contributions moving him toward the dual milestone.
Montana found three receivers for touchdowns on three separate drives. The 49ers' run game produced 151 yards on 33 carries to supplement the passing. The Superdome crowd was engaged but the Saints' 4-10 record reflected the team's inability to sustain pressure on the 49ers' defense.
Wilson went 22 of 41 for 285 yards and two touchdowns. Rogers ran for 86 yards. The Saints scored on three drives but could not match the 49ers' scoring pace. The 31-19 final moved the 49ers to 9-6 with one game left.
49ers 31, Saints 19. Margin: plus 12. Record: 9-6.
A 31-19 road win at the Superdome. The 49ers move to 9-6 and clinch their playoff spot pending the Dallas home finale.
How it unfolded
Montana's first touchdown opened the scoring. The 49ers built a 24-13 lead by the third quarter. The Saints cut it to 24-19 before the 49ers' final touchdown closed it at 31-19. Craig's rushing yardage moved him to 967 for the year.
The turning point
Montana's third-quarter drive that produced the 24-13 lead. With the Saints within one possession entering the third, the scoring drive created the two-score cushion that held through the game.
By the numbers
Montana 25 of 38 at 9.3 per attempt, three touchdowns, one interception. Craig 74 rushing yards — 33 from 1,000. Run game 33 carries for 151 yards. Wilson 285 yards for New Orleans but two touchdowns against three from Montana.
What it means
9-6 heading home for the Dallas finale. Win and the 49ers reach the playoffs. Craig needs 33 more yards to complete the historic 1,000-1,000 season.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 27 | 14 |
| Total Yards | 500 | 289 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 25/38 | 20/34 |
| Pass yards | 354 | 254 |
| Pass TD | 3 | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 5 |
| Sack yards lost | 5 | 40 |
| Net pass yards | 349 | 214 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 33 | 23 |
| Rush yards | 151 | 75 |
| Rush TD | 1 | 0 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 0 | 0 |
| Fumbles lost | 0 | 0 |
| Penalties | 5 | 7 |
| Penalty yards | 40 | 65 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 25/38 | 354 | 3 | 1 | 111.1 |
| NOR | |||||
| Bobby Hebert | 20/34 | 254 | 1 | 0 | 92 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 18 | 88 | 1 | 24 |
| Derrick Harmon | 8 | 40 | 0 | 17 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 7 | 23 | 0 | 11 |
| NOR | ||||
| Wayne Wilson | 13 | 27 | 0 | 8 |
| Earl Campbell | 6 | 20 | 0 | 5 |
| Tyrone Anthony | 2 | 18 | 0 | 13 |
| Bobby Hebert | 2 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Roger Craig #33 | 8 | 82 | 0 | 25 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 4 | 82 | 0 | 42 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 4 | 71 | 1 | 52 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 4 | 61 | 1 | 26 |
| Derrick Harmon | 3 | 31 | 0 | 19 |
| Russ Francis #81 | 2 | 27 | 1 | 17 |
| NOR | ||||
| Eugene Goodlow | 5 | 135 | 1 | 76 |
| Wayne Wilson | 8 | 47 | 0 | 12 |
| John Tice | 1 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| Jeff Groth | 2 | 21 | 0 | 13 |
| Earl Campbell | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| Hoby Brenner | 2 | 10 | 0 | 7 |
| Tyrone Anthony | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1985 W15 - 49ers at New Orleans Saints - Game Thread
